Seniors need safe flooring options

With a rapidly aging population, many homeowners are making renovations to their homes, or the homes of loved ones, to ensure a safe living environment. If you find yourself in this situation, consider starting at the bottom — the floor — and working your way up.

Slips and falls are a problem in any home, especially one that houses aging residents. Here are some tips to ensure that a walk across the floor is as easy as a walk through the park!

• Whether your choosing wood, tile or carpet, it is wise to employ a sharp color contrast to identify any changes in elevation. This will help identify where the floor ends and walls, stairs and doors begin. For example, in a home with hardwood flooring, an end cap that is a few shades darker can improve both appearance and safety!

• If you or your loved one is using a walker or some other mobility aid, hardwood, linoleum or tile are the best choices as they are easily navigated and do not drag or pull when in contact with sneakers or rubber-covered devices.

• If installing tile, ask the sales representative about slip resistance, which can differ from product to product.

• Consider the flooring finish as well. Following changes in level, glare is the next largest impediment to safe mobility. For example, a matte finish on a wood floor reduces glare considerably when compared to a gloss finish.

Finally, it’s important to note that area rugs, when placed over any type of flooring, are always a slip and fall hazard!

Elderlife Real Estate is a real estate service specializing in the needs and requirements of older adults and those who care about them. We have specialized in this since 1999. Michael Olear’s initial career included a Master's Degree in Social Work and this blend of social work technique and real estate brokerage has created a hybrid service that has been uniquely useful for hundreds of families in WNY. Several realtors on the team have the Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation.

Whether it’s downsizing from the family house to a smaller home, moving to a senior community, or acting as a POA or executor, we know that the last thing you want is to focus on the details.

We will plan out every aspect for you including household sale, repairs, inspections Allow us to handle the specialized work of selling your property so your attention is where you need it to be.

Is the property being sold located in the Erie/Niagara region of New York?

We assist every seller with creation of a written timeline, loosely scheduled at first, that includes all major tasks to be performed in the most beneficial sequence for that individual’s circumstance. Two samples are included below:

House A: Tonawanda, NY

Schedule meeting with town plumbing inspector

Schedule meeting with town electrical inspector

Meet town plumbing inspector for evaluation

Meet town electrical inspector for evaluation

Schedule at least 2 estate liquidators

Meet liquidators and obtain their quotes, contracts and plans of action

Schedule engineer for home inspection to evaluate basement cracks and provide complete written, home inspection report

Obtain estimate for installation of drywall, finishing and painting.

Report back to owner regarding progress of estate liquidator by phone, email and photo

Report back to owner regarding cleanout of house by liquidator by phone, email and photo

Arrange for installation of drywall, finishing and painting if required by contract of sale.

Arrange for electrician and plumber if required by town

Schedule any other contractors that may be requested by owner including lawn, snow plowing, property management, etc.

House B: Amherst, NY

Obtain engineer report with respect to basement

After obtaining engineer’s recommendation, obtain two estimates for foundation repair, flushing drain tile and basement seepage that also includes transferable warranty

Arrange for basement repair and document completion for owner with photos

Obtain two estimates for plastering/painting kitchen, back hall way, living room and upstairs bedroom (lower part of wall and one side wall – match color of remainder of room)

Ask painter if they will clean brick at the top of hearth in family room. Obtain estimate for upstairs painting just to see how much it would be.

Arrange for painting as per approved estimate and document completion for owner with photos

Obtain two estimates for replacement of hot water tank

Arrange for installation of new hot water tank and document completion for owner with photos

Arrange for removal of any junk in basement and arrange for cleaning of same and this includes shop vac for all spider webs as well as power washing walls and floor after sweeping – document for owner with photos

Approach neighbor if necessary regarding establishing written maintenance agreement or common driveway

Arrange for carpet cleaning in the 1stfloor

Put caution tape across access door to attic

The Olear Team/MJ Peterson had a 100.02% list price to sale price ratio in 2019. The marketplace average in Western New York for the same time period was 98.1%. The list price to sale price ratio is how much you sell for compared to your asking price. In 2018, the Olear Team averaged 98.9% and the market average for all other realtors was 96.7%.

The Olear Team/MJ Peterson averaged 11 days on the market in 2019. Days on market is the time interval from when a house is listed to when it is actually under contract. The broader market average for all other real estate agents combined was 35 days. In 2018, The Olear Team averaged 19 days and the market average then was 42 days.

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